San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-11-10
THE ANARCHISTS.

OF the 9th says:
Interest in the fate OF the prisoners
is increasing at speed past belief.
At no time in the history of tho city,
except, perhaps, the night when
flames swept over the three divisions
has excitement been 80 great. Tables
were to-day placed in a dozen promi-
nent places, on street corners or other
available spots, upon which are pei
tons for the Communication of the sen
tence of death on the condemned
anarchists
Day after day long lists of citizens,
who have hitherto been emphatic in
their demand for the infection of the
extreme penalty Of the law on the
condemned anarchists, appear attach
ed to petitions for commutation.
Among these the names Of eminent
members of the bar and bench attract
the most attention. A reporter re.
quested several of the legal lights to
give their reasons for signing the pc
titions. w. G. Cloudy said: 1t comes
now for the Governor to decide
whether or not the extreme penalty
should be meted out to these men.
1t may be urged in their favor that
they had often before talked more
violently than they did at the Hay.
market meeting. The Mayor of the
city, it's highest officer, was appealed
to to Suppress their talk and and stop
their paper, but he refused, insisting
that they had Alright to talk and write
that way. This gave them q kind OF
license for the talk the night of the
murder. 1t is a question of public
policy, and l am certain that the
execution of these men is not the
way to Suppress anarchistic ideas OF
socialistic tendencies among the
masses. My idea is that they should
be sent to Joliet for life, put into
stripes and treated simply as common
felons These men are honest in
their declaration that they would
rather be hung than sent to prison
for life. The point is that they will
be robbed of all the romance, the
seutimentality, the exaltation OF
martyrdom."
Ex-senator Trumbull said: II am
not taking an active part in this
matter, bnt 1 signed the petition
because I thought it was best. 1 was
not altogether satisfied with the
manner in which the trial of the
anarchists was conducted. 1t took
place ut time of great public excite
nent, when it was about impossible
that they should have fair and
impartial trial A terrible crime had
been committed, which was attributed
to the anarchists, and in some respects
the trial had the appearance of a
trial of an organization known as
anarchists. rather than of persons
indicted for the murder of began
Several of the condemned were moi
at the meeting where the bomb was
thrown, and none of them as
understand, were directly connected
with it's throwing. The condemned
claim, however enormously, to be the
advocates of a principle, and to ex.
ecute them would, in my judgment
be bad policy. 1t will be claimed
for them that they were executed as
martyrs TO cause, while if put in
prison they will soon be forgotten
Judge Moran said his reasons fol
signing the petition were similar te
those of ex. Senator Trumbull. I'll
is now question of public policy,
he said, whether or not those men
should be hanged. Mere pity fol
the men cuts no figure. 1t is moi
customary in this country to hang O
fellow for talking. The sentiment
is to let him talk, that the people will
be all right anyhow. Besides, will ii
pay to allow these men to become
martyrs? Among the laboring and
middle-classes will it not give rise tc
the belief, unfounded though it be,
that man of wealth can say what he
pleases, but if laborer or labor's
mouth piece talks he will be hanged
Many acts as well as statements are
Inisconstrued and developed into far
reaching consequences.
The reasons given by these gentle
men seem to voice the the sentiments
of the majority of the petitioners.
The following statement of three
of the leading anarchists is attracting
great attention:
CHICAGO, Ill, November B. 1887
Gov. Richard j Oglesby, Spr ngfe d
ILL.,: DEAR SIR-In order that the
truth may be known by you and the
public you represent we desire to
state that we never advocated the use
of force except in case of self-d, Tense
To accuse us of having attempted &c
overthrow law and government on
May 4, 1856, or at any other time, Is
ms false as it is absurd. Whatever
we said or did was said ana done
publicly. We have never conspired
or plotted to commit an unlawful
act. While we attacked the present
sacial arrangements in writing and
and speech, and exposed their IN
iauities, we have never conciously
broken any laws. SO far from having
planned the killing of anybody at the
Haymarket, or anywhere else, the
very object of the meeting was t.
protest against the commission o.
nnrder We believe n TO be ouI